Team Herald
MARGAO: Work on the Rs 207 crore project to double track the South Western Railway line from Kulem to Margao is expected to commence very shortly as Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd has already tendered the work to M/s Tracks & Towers Infratech Pvt Ltd, who are in the process of setting up their office in Goa.
The work on Kulem to Margao sector is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2020-21 and involves laying of the double track on 34 kms besides having six major bridges, 38 minor bridges, 5 stations and 1 halt, seven level crossings and 30 quarters which will be at Sanvordem where the Railways have sufficient land.
The six major bridges are as follows: Two between Kulem and Kalem, two between Kulem and Sanvordem and two between Sanvordem and Chandor while the minor bridges will be nine between Kulem and Kalem, 14 between Kalem and Sanvordem, three between Sanvordem and Chandor and 12 between Chandor and Margao
While earthwork formation will be costing Rs 37.20 crore, the bridge work will cost around Rs 91.90 crore, the actually laying of the rail line will cost Rs. 36.93 crore, the staff quarters and buildings will cost Rs. 8.45 crore, platform passenger amenities including the foot over bridge extensions will cost Rs 9.3 crore, signal and telecommunications will cost Rs 5.24 crore, general electric works Rs. 2.76 crore and cement worth around Rs. 17.52 crore will be utilized.
Two platforms will be constructed at Chandor and Kalem with a new foot over bridge for Chandor while the existing one at Kalem will be extended. Incidentally, the existing station at Chandor will be demolished and a new station will be constructed on the other side.
Konkan Railway Corporation has undertaken to erect a loop line at the Margao Railway station and also to erect new platforms at Margao, Majorda and Dabolim for the South Western Railway to undertake their Tinaighat to Vasco double tracking of railway line.
In Goa, while Kulem to Margao has been taken up as the first segment, second phase is Margao to Vasco section which is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2017-2018 and completed in third quarter of 2020-2021 and finally will be the Castlerock to Kulem section which will commence in fourth quarter of 2017-2018 and is expected to complete in third quarter of 2020-2021.
For the Kulem to Margao sector, the government proposes to acquire around 10.5 hectares of land. The land sought to be acquired is as follows: Collem – 5173 sq mts, Calem – 22775 sq mts, Santona – 5309 sq mts, Sanvordem – 6930 sq mts, Xic-Xelvona – 920 sq mts, Assolda – 3720 sq mts, Chandor – 4843 sq mts, Guirdolim – 23490 sq mts, St Jose de Areal – 3425 sq mts and Davorlim – 8815 sq mts.
More than 20 thousand sq mts of land is sought in Kalem and Guirdolim because a new platform and a new station is proposed to be constructed at these two villages for the railway stations at Kalem and Chandor.
The state government has apparently invoked the policy prepared by it following the amended to Land Acquisition Act to acquire the land in Goa, under which initially consent from the land loser is required.
It is learnt that land losers from Sanguem and Quepem talukas have already given their consent, while currently officials are seeking consent letters from land losers in Salcete taluka.
